Collapsible automatic erecting compartmentalized carton

ABSTRACT

A collapsible automatic erecting compartmentalized carton having a food receiving compartment; an item receiving compartment integral to a corner inside of the food receiving compartment, and a circular beverage receiving compartment integrally mounted outside of the food receiving compartment. The food receiving compartment, the item receiving compartment and the beverage receiving compartment are formed from a one-piece blank and are the same height.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to a packaging unit or carton and moreparticularly to a one piece blank that constructs into a beverage andsnack compartmentalized carton.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Entertainment events such as sport events or movies often provide theoption of having various types of food and drinks to enjoy during theevent. For example movie theatre patrons often enjoy eating and drinkingduring a movie and more specifically eat buttered popcorn, chips, orother snack food together with a cold beverage and candy or treat.Typically these snack foods are packaged in individual cartons orcontainers namely a popcorn tub, and an individual drink cup. Candy andother treats traditionally come in there own packaging or wrapper. Themovie theatre patron then transports or carries these individualpurchases into the movie theatre. Depending on the number of cartons,this process can be difficult as the cartons must be balanced andjuggled during their transportation which can often result in spills andmesses.

Moreover at sporting events and other types of entertainment eventsdifferent types of food, besides typical movie going food noted above,may be offered that is easily transportable around the event such asfried foods and hot beverages. Furthermore the event may includepromotional items such as toys, memorabilia and various keepsakescommemorating the event which must be transported as well as the foodand beverage.

Prior art packaging for snacks have been devised to address some notedproblems when transporting these items. For example, U.S. Pat. No.2,774,468 issued on Dec. 18, 1956 to Ross and relates generally topackaging and is particularly directed to display type cartons for usein packaging articles of merchandise.

Miller is the owner of U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,081 which issued on Jan. 3,1989 and this patent relates to a one-piece paperboard container andclosure member telescopically opens and closes and, in the process ofopening, reveals hidden matter printed on the container body portion,the closure member automatically frictionally locking onto the containerbody portion in the closed position. A single paperboard blank has afirst and second set of four serially connected rectangular panels, acorresponding set of connecting strips connecting the first and secondset of panels and cooperating therewith to provide a top for the closuremember and to provide telescopic movement of the closure member relativeto the container body portion, a series of proportionately sized V-cutsbetween each of the first set of panels, just below and adjacent to thestrips, and two pairs of converging cut score lines and a centralperforated score line at non-adjacent corners of the constructedcontainer body portion, the converging cut score lines having apredetermined height less than the height of the closure member.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,540 which issued on Nov. 11, 2003 to Jamitzkyrelates to packaging unit which comprises a receiving chamber forpopcorn, or the like, the outside thereof having secured thereto apocket into which a beverage cup is insertable such that said cup isseated in a clamp seat. The packaging unit can comfortably be carried bya user gripping around the pocket with one hand. If the packaging unitis made from a one-part blank, it can be produced and erected easily.

However sometimes there can be additional items that require transportas well as providing an easy setup of the tray or carton itself.Therefore to ensure that the various foods, beverages and other itemsare transported carefully and easily, one solution is to place them on asnack tray that can accommodate, contain and separate the various foods,beverages and other items into separate compartments.

Thus a collapsible automatic erecting compartmentalized carton whicheasily is constructed from a one piece blank, safely and effectivelytransports a wide variety of food, beverages and objects is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide animproved carton for carrying various items, such as food and beverages.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provideda collapsible automatic erecting compartmentalized carton having a foodreceiving compartment; an item receiving compartment integral to acorner inside of the food receiving compartment, and a cylindricalbeverage receiving compartment integrally mounted outside of the foodreceiving compartment. The food receiving compartment, the itemreceiving compartment and the beverage receiving compartment are formedfrom a one-piece blank and are the same height.

Conveniently, the food receiving compartment includes at least threepanels adjacent to one another via fold lines wherein each panel has atop edge and the cylindrical beverage receiving compartment has at leastfour adjacent panels connected to one another via fold lines whereineach panel has a top and bottom edge.

Preferably, the item receiving compartment further comprises a series ofcut-outs across the first corner of the food receiving compartment.

Advantages of the present invention are the ability to easily and safelycarry a variety of items including snacks, popcorn, candy, chips orloose fill food items, various beverages, toys and other promotionalitems; a cylindrical-shaped beverage receiving compartment that extendsthe length of the food receiving compartment which allows for secure andstable transportation of either a hot or cold beverage without allowingthe carton to keel over; the round opening of the cylindrical-shapedbeverage receiving compartment allows for a different types of roundcontainers to be carried; easy pop-up erection of the carton from acollapsed position by applying pressure to the sides of the collapsedcarton; the item receiving compartment allows for a variety of otheritems to be carried by the patron namely toys, candy or otherpromotional items; and all the compartments are constructed from a onepiece cardboard blank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of the preferred embodiment is provided hereinbelow by way of example only and with reference to the followingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 in a front perspective view, illustrates a compartmentalizedcarton in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 in a side perspective view, illustrates the compartmentalizedcarton of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 in a bottom perspective view illustrates the compartmentalizedcarton of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 in a top perspective view, illustrates the compartmentalizedcarton of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 in a top plan view, illustrates the one-piece blank of thecompartmentalized carton.

In the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are illustratedby way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the descriptionand drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid tounderstanding, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, there is illustrated in perspective views anda top plan view, a collapsible automatic erecting compartmentalizedcarton 10. The collapsible automatic erecting compartmentalized carton10 includes a food receiving compartment 12, an item receivingcompartment 14 integral to a first corner 16 inside of the foodreceiving compartment 12, and a cylindrical beverage receivingcompartment 18 integrally mounted outside of the food receivingcompartment 12. The food receiving compartment 12, the item receivingcompartment 14 and the beverage receiving compartment 18 are formed froma one-piece blank 20 and are the same height.

The food receiving compartment 12 includes at least three panels 22adjacent to one another that are connected via fold lines 24. The seriesof panels 22 all have a top edge 26 that have the same height. Typicallythe collapsible automatic erecting compartmentalized carton 10 includesfour panels 22 to form a four-sided structure such as a square orrectangle, though a three sided structure such as a triangle is alsopossible. Typically the width of the panels 22 are the same. The foodreceiving compartment 12 further includes a securing tab 13 whichsecures the food receiving compartment 12 to one of the panels 22 of thefood receiving compartment 12 when constructed.

The food receiving compartment 12 also includes a bottom portion 28 thatis comprised of a series of flaps 30 that can be trapezoidal in shape.The flaps 30 are connected to the panels 22 at a bottom edge 32 of thepanels 22 via fold lines 34. The bottom portion 28 may also include atleast one sealing flap (not shown) that is positioned across the bottominterior of the food receiving compartment 12. The bottom portion 28 mayfurther include a fold line 36 positioned diagonally across the seriesof flaps 30 to allow the food receiving compartment 12 to be collapsedalong the fold line 36.

The cylindrical beverage receiving compartment 18 further includes atleast four adjacent panels 38 connected to one another via fold lines40. Each panel 38 includes a top edge 42 and bottom edge 44. The topedge 42 and bottom edge 44 have straight edges. Typically the panels 38are the same width. The panel 38 of the cylindrical beverage receivingcompartment 18 is integrally mounted to a panel 22 of the food receivingcompartment 12.

More specifically the food receiving compartment 12 further includes asecond corner 40 of a panel 22 that adjacently connects to a panel 38 ofthe cylindrical beverage receiving compartment 18 thereby connecting thefood receiving compartment 12 to the cylindrical beverage receivingcompartment 18. Typically the cylindrical beverage receiving compartmentincludes ten panels 38 that articulate around the fold lines 40 andallow for the formation of the cylinder with a circular or round opening52.

The item receiving compartment 14 further includes a series of cut-outs42 across the first corner 16 of the food receiving compartment 12. Theseries of cut-outs 42 allow for the first corner 16 to be pushed in at afirst point 44 and a second point 46. The engagement of the first point44 provides an opening 48 to insert a promotional item into the itemreceiving compartment 14. The engagement of the second point 46 providesa supporting portion 50 or ledge that supports the promotional item onceit is inserted into the opening 48.

In operation the collapsible automatic erecting compartmentalized cartonis constructed from the one piece blank 60 illustrated in FIG. 5.Typically the food receiving compartment 12 is constructed by foldingthe panels 22 along fold lines 24 to form a four sided structure. Thesecuring tab 13 of one panel 22 is fastened to another panel 22 with afastener such as glue. The series of flaps 30 of the bottom portion 28are then folded and fastened with a fastener such as glue. The fold line36 across the bottom portion 28 and the fold lines 24 along the panels22 allow for the food receiving compartment 12 to be collapsed.

The panels 38 of the cylindrical beverage receiving compartment 18articulate around the fold lines 40 to form a cylinder with a roundopening 52. A panel 38 is fastened to a portion of one of the panels 22of the food receiving compartment 12 thereby securing the cylindricalbeverage receiving compartment 18 to the food receiving compartment 12.Similar to the food receiving compartment 12, the cylindrical beveragereceiving compartment 18 can easily collapse along the fold lines 40.

For erecting the compartmentalized carton 10 pressure is applied to thesides of the collapsed food receiving compartment 12 and the beveragereceiving compartment 18. Both compartments pop up in a single motion.The item receiving compartment 16 is erected by applying pressure atboth the first point 44 and the second point 46 so as to produce theopening 48 and the supporting portion 50 so as to receive and support apromotional item.

Other variations and modifications of the invention are possible. Allsuch modifications or variations are believed to be within the sphereand scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

1. A collapsible automatic erecting compartmentalized carton comprising:(a) a food receiving compartment; (b) an item receiving compartmentintegral to a first corner inside of the food receiving compartment; (c)a cylindrical beverage receiving compartment integrally mounted outsideof the food receiving compartment; wherein the food receivingcompartment, the item receiving compartment and the beverage receivingcompartment are formed from a one-piece blank and are the same height.2. A collapsible automatic erecting compartmentalized carton as claimedin claim 1 wherein the food receiving compartment includes at leastthree panels adjacent to one another via fold lines wherein each panelhas a top edge.
 3. A collapsible automatic erecting compartmentalizedcarton as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cylindrical beverage receivingcompartment further comprises at least four adjacent panels connected toone another via fold lines wherein each panel has a top and bottom edge.4. A collapsible automatic erecting compartmentalized carton as claimedin claim 3 wherein the food receiving compartment further comprises asecond corner of a panel that adjacently connects to a panel of thecylindrical beverage receiving compartment.
 5. A collapsible automaticerecting compartmentalized carton as claimed in claim 4 wherein the foodreceiving compartment further comprises a bottom portion having at leasta series of trapezoidal flaps.
 6. A collapsible automatic erectingcompartmentalized carton as claimed in claim 5 wherein the bottomportion of the food receiving portion further includes at least onesealing flap.
 7. A collapsible automatic erecting compartmentalizedcarton as claimed in claim 3 wherein the item receiving compartmentfurther comprises a series of cut-outs across the first corner of thefood receiving compartment.
 8. A collapsible automatic erectingcompartmentalized carton as claimed in claim 3 wherein the top andbottom edges of the adjacent panels of the cylindrical beveragereceiving compartment are straight and the top edge of food receivingcompartment panels are straight.
 9. A collapsible automatic erectingcompartmentalized carton as claimed in claim 2 wherein the panels of thefood receiving compartment are the same width.
 10. A collapsibleautomatic erecting compartmentalized carton as claimed in claim 3wherein the panels of the cylindrical beverage receiving compartment arethe same width.
 11. A collapsible automatic erecting compartmentalizedcarton as claimed in claim 2 wherein one of the panels of the foodreceiving compartment further includes a securing tab which secures thefood receiving compartment to one of the panels of the food receivingcompartment.
 12. A collapsible automatic erecting compartmentalizedcarton as claimed in claim 5 wherein the bottom portion further includesa fold line diagonally positioned across the bottom portion.